Eric Stoltz made me understand the tragedy of the ending of Back to the Future and the inhumanity of the American Dream
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I would say there are two other fundamental differences between 1995 and today in society and technology: 9/11 and the proliferation of mobile devices (and along with them, social media). Perhaps not quite as sharp in contrast as 1955 and 1985, but I still think it's a distinctive one.
As for the Trump gag in lieu of Reagan, it could still work, especially when tied in with the cult of personality.
As a senior in high school in 1988-89, one of my fellow classmates started a computer recycling business. With the money he earned, he was able to buy one of the first car phones that doubled as a mobile phone. That was pretty expensive in those days.
Agreed. No one needs to perform mental gymnastics to "explain" something which needed no explanation or refer to sequels to which were not in production when this film and its materialistic end message was in theaters. Marty's performance in school--rather his being habitually late--suggested a general disinterest in school. It was not high on his priorities list, and when confronted by Strickland, his behavior was of the "don't care" variety.
The power of the Almighty Dollar and its toys were presented as being the supportive gifts of a better life. After all, the McFlys were no longer middle to lower middle class, and alternate reality Marty lives a life of privilege, and responsibility (enough for his parents to buy him a new truck) without a care in the world. Thank you, Ronnie Reagan.
I definitely did not have a Walkman in 1985.Or really anything "name brand".
I saved my pennies and bought this very model Walkman in 1984. Back then it cost me $200.00. Used it so much the belt broke and the volume sliders turned green. The Motels and Til Tuesday sounded glorious through it...
Ridiculously expensive purchase for a young man. A decent used car then could be owned for $600.00.
Just some perspective of that time.
I and my family had what we'd now call "Dollar Store Walkmans" in the late '80s, but they worked and provided hours of pleasure when I was a teenager in junior high and early in my high school career. I wanted a name brand player but, oh well, never got one. I preferred having my first VCRs over getting the name brand Walkman, something I never took to school anyways.
This was why I wanted to be clear that Marty had an actual Sony. Lots of us had portable cassette players. (Walgreens!) But a real Sony Walkman? That's something else.
Right?
Right!
I felt my Sony Walkman was ridiculously overpriced, but it was a high-quality unit. Mostly metal. I bought it before I even saw Back to the Future. When I saw how callously Marty stored his own Aiwa version and even took it into the field to persuade George, I was horrified! These things were expensive!!! Were material goods simply disposable commodities in Marty's mind? I dunno.
I felt my Sony Walkman was ridiculously overpriced, but it was a high-quality unit. Mostly metal. I bought it before I even saw Back to the Future. When I saw how callously Marty stored his own Aiwa version and even took it into the field to persuade George, I was horrified! These things were expensive!!! Were material goods simply disposable commodities in Marty's mind? I dunno.
I had a hand me down Sony branded one from older brother but within 2 weeks of regular use a belt snapped.... Before that I had a really nice one but it was a Realistic branded one from Tandy, but it was really nice and ran for ages on one set of batteries. Also had a tuner for radio.
I'm not quite sure I buy the hypothesis that "money=better life" was the point that the movie was trying to get across, just like I don't think that was the point of similar movies like Hot Tub Time Machine, Peggy Sue Got Married, etc. It was simply that people with shitty lives were given a second chance at happiness and ended up with a better life.
One thing that gets overlooked in the original movie is that Marty saw Doc brutally murdered in front of him. The kid was in shock. He's overjoyed to find Doc's younger self in Hill Valley of the past and even tries to prevent the murder of his friend in the future, but basically Marty is in shock on multiple levels. But his focus on recreating his own existence has priority, rightly so. His grief is short-circuited in a way by his own need for existence.
But all is well in the end. The new improved circumstances of his material life pale in comparison to his intervention where he manipulates his father into growing a quick and lasting spine and manipulating his own mother to see the true value of George McFly.
But all is well in the end. The new improved circumstances of his material life pale in comparison to his intervention where he manipulates his father into growing a quick and lasting spine and manipulating his own mother to see the true value of George McFly.
And Lone Pine Mall probably went on to have even better business than Twin Pines Mall. 
And he does manage to save Doc. And more than once.
And Lone Pine Mall probably went on to have even better business than Twin Pines Mall.
They started showing Rocky Horror at the midnight movies.
Honestly, thanks for reminding me that the emotional heart of the movie is really Marty trying to save Doc. And really, Fox is really good at getting that across.
And Lone Pine Mall probably went on to have even better business than Twin Pines Mall.
It's Ghost Pine Mall now that it's been shuttered in 2025 from multiple retail bankruptcies like JC Penney.
